TCF Bank Stadium to host Vikings if Dome not fixed

A crew works inside the Metrodome Tuesday Dec, 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Engineering crews are inspecting damage done to the Metrodome when its roof collapsed over the weekend. And the stadium's owners expect word before the end of Tuesday on whether it can be repaired for next Monday's Minnesota Vikings game. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Joles)
— AP

A crew works inside the Metrodome Tuesday Dec, 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Engineering crews are inspecting damage done to the Metrodome when its roof collapsed over the weekend. And the stadium's owners expect word before the end of Tuesday on whether it can be repaired for next Monday's Minnesota Vikings game. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Joles)
/ AP

Workers remove snow from the field inside the Metrodome Tuesday Dec, 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Engineering crews are inspecting damage done to the Metrodome when its roof collapsed over the weekend. And the stadium's owners expect word before the end of Tuesday on whether it can be repaired for next Monday's Minnesota Vikings game. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Joles)— AP

Workers remove snow from the field inside the Metrodome Tuesday Dec, 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Engineering crews are inspecting damage done to the Metrodome when its roof collapsed over the weekend. And the stadium's owners expect word before the end of Tuesday on whether it can be repaired for next Monday's Minnesota Vikings game. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Joles)
/ AP

Three workers shovel snow off the roof of the Metrodome on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, in Minneapolis. Frigid air whipped through a desolate Metrodome on Monday as crews began inspecting the Minnesota stadium's nearly three decades-old roof after it collapsed under the weight of heavy snow that pounded the Twin Cities and forced the Vikings to move their game to Detroit. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Elizabeth Flores)— AP

Three workers shovel snow off the roof of the Metrodome on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, in Minneapolis. Frigid air whipped through a desolate Metrodome on Monday as crews began inspecting the Minnesota stadium's nearly three decades-old roof after it collapsed under the weight of heavy snow that pounded the Twin Cities and forced the Vikings to move their game to Detroit. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Elizabeth Flores)
/ AP

Three workers shovel snow off the roof of the Metrodome Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Frigid air whipped through a desolate Metrodome on Monday as crews began inspecting the Minnesota stadium's nearly three decades-old roof after it collapsed under the weight of heavy snow that pounded the Twin Cities and forced the Vikings to move their game to Detroit. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Elizabeth Flores)— AP

Three workers shovel snow off the roof of the Metrodome Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 in Minneapolis. Frigid air whipped through a desolate Metrodome on Monday as crews began inspecting the Minnesota stadium's nearly three decades-old roof after it collapsed under the weight of heavy snow that pounded the Twin Cities and forced the Vikings to move their game to Detroit. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Elizabeth Flores)
/ AP

The Minneapolis Metrodome, home field of the Minnesota Vikings, collapsed after about seventeen inches of snow fell during a recent snow storm and still waits repair in Minneapolis, Minn., on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010. A team is due to arrive today from the New York-based company that made the Metrodome roof to make repairs. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)— AP

The Minneapolis Metrodome, home field of the Minnesota Vikings, collapsed after about seventeen inches of snow fell during a recent snow storm and still waits repair in Minneapolis, Minn., on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010. A team is due to arrive today from the New York-based company that made the Metrodome roof to make repairs. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
/ AP

MINNEAPOLIS 
The Minnesota Vikings said Tuesday they're getting ready to use Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium as a backup if the torn Metrodome roof can't be repaired before Monday night's game with Chicago.

Workers at the university began the daunting task of removing snow from the outdoor stadium, which was buried after a weekend snowstorm dumped more than 17 inches in Minneapolis and caused the Metrodome's Teflon roof to collapse early Sunday.

"We're going to do the best we can to get as prepared as we can for Monday night's game," said Scott Ellison, assistant athletic director for facilities at the University of Minnesota.

A team of engineers and workers inspected the Metrodome's collapsed roof on Tuesday, but there was no immediate decision on how long it would take to repair the tattered roof and whether the stadium would be usable in just six days.

In a statement, the Vikings said they are working with the university and NFL to get TCF Bank Stadium ready in case Mall of America field isn't an option.

"The Vikings are committed to ensuring a home game in Minnesota for our fans," the Vikings said.

Roy Terwilliger, president of the Metrodome-owning Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said the Vikings would prefer to play in the Dome but officials were working "on a dual track that would have TCF Bank Stadium ready in case the Metrodome isn't."

Garry Bowman, director of athletic communications at the University of Minnesota, said clearing tons of snow from inside the stadium would be a tall order.

"If we're going to do it, we really need to get started yesterday," Bowman said. Given all the snow and other weather-related factors, it would likely take five to six days to prepare TCF for an NFL game, he said.

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley has said the team was determined to play next week in Minnesota, after Sunday's game against the New York Giants was delayed by a day and played in Detroit.

Inside the Metrodome on Tuesday, work crews were laying sheets of plywood on the field to keep it dry and using several hydraulic lifts as they began tearing down pieces of the torn roof. Pat Milan, spokesman for the Sports Facilities Commission, said that five experts from Birdair Inc., the Amhert, N.Y.-based contractor that built the roof, were in the process of a damage inspection and officials with the commission were expecting to have a set of options laid out for them later in the day.

"Everyone expects we will know where we're going by tonight," Milan said.

A Birdair inspection earlier this year found the roof's overall condition was "good," though it said that the inner lining of woven fiberglass - one of two layers that make up the roof - was dirty and in poor condition. Terwilliger said facilities officials at the Metrodome told his commission after the inspection that the roof had several more years left in it. The roof last gave way in April 1983 because of snow, forcing the postponement of a Minnesota Twins game.